Ni Hao.
Su Yi was not unfamiliar with him. When he became the leader of the outer disciples of the Qinghe Sword Mansion, Ni Hao was already a prominent figure among the disciples of the Eastern Court of the inner disciples of the Qinghe Sword Mansion.
Although they knew each other, they didn't have much interaction.
Su Yi didn't care about the faint indifference and disdain that unintentionally showed from Ni Hao.
"Now that you have seen me, if there's nothing else, you and Ni Hao can leave."
Su Yi calmly spoke, giving the order to leave.
Nanying felt surprised, as if she couldn't believe that these impolite words came from Su Yi's mouth.
After a moment of silence, she apologized to Ni Hao and said, "Senior Brother, can I have a private conversation with Senior Brother Su Yi?"
"Sure, but don't take too long. Senior Uncle Zhou is waiting for us at the Li family's place."
Ni Hao nodded and ignored Su Yi, turning around and leaving the courtyard.
Su Yi frowned but eventually decided to listen to what Nanying had to say.
"Lingxue, wait for me in my room," he said softly.
Wen Lingxue also sensed that something was amiss and replied with an "Mm" before turning and entering Su Yi's room.
Under the old locust tree, only Su Yi and Nanying were left.
"If I hadn't come, how would I know that Senior Brother Su has fallen to such a state?" Nanying stared at Su Yi, who was close at hand, for a moment. A slight curve appeared on her lips, revealing a hint of playfulness. Her snow-white chin lifted.
At this moment, she seemed like a different person.
No longer gentle and demure, she exuded a blatant disdain and pride between her beautiful eyebrows.
"The former leader of the Qinghe Sword Mansion's outer disciples, what a glorious position! But who would believe that Senior Brother Su, today, has fallen into such disgrace in Guangling City, becoming the laughingstock of everyone as a son-in-law who can be openly ridiculed?"
Nanying chuckled, "How does it feel? It must be unpleasant, right?"
"Did you come here just to mock me?"
Su Yi raised an eyebrow and secretly criticized himself. How could he have fallen for this cunning and fickle woman during those three years?
"That's right, I came here just to mock you!"
Nanying made no effort to conceal her mockery as she spoke, "Back then, in the Qinghe Sword Mansion, you were the leader of the outer disciples. I had to flatter and please you at every turn, putting on an appearance of admiration and awe whenever I saw you."
"I thought that if things continued this way and you successfully became an inner disciple, you could help me and give me a chance to enter the inner sect for cultivation. But who would have thought that before you became an inner disciple... you became a waste with depleted cultivation!"
As she said this, her chest heaved, and her beautiful face was filled with intense hatred. "The three years I wasted on you have all gone to waste!"
Su Yi's tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and he spoke with a calm expression, "So you're saying that you never truly had any feelings for me during that time?"
"Of course not!" Nanying answered without hesitation. She had originally planned to see Su Yi in a state of frustration, sadness, and anger.
But she discovered that Su Yi had remained calm throughout.
His indifferent demeanor made her extremely uncomfortable.
However, Nanying quickly regained her composure and spoke with a charming smile, "But it's alright. After you became a useless person, I found an opportunity and got together with Senior Brother Ni Hao."
"He is an inner disciple of the Eastern Court, a remarkable figure in the Qinghe Sword Mansion. Even in your prime, you weren't worthy enough to shine his shoes!"
"With his help, I entered the inner sect for cultivation six months ago. With my current status, I am far superior to a useless son-in-law like you."
She grew more and more proud as she spoke, clearly aiming to deliberately provoke and humiliate Su Yi.
However, to her surprise, Su Yi's expression remained unchanged, undisturbed by any ripples.
"Don't you have anything to say?" Nanying couldn't help but speak.
Su Yi casually replied, "I just feel sorry for Ni Hao. He's nothing more than a tool you're using. Once you find someone more powerful to cling to in the future, you will discard him."
Nanying paused, then smiled lightly, "Su Yi, oh Su Yi, I didn't expect you to become quite smart now. What you said is true, but I won't admit it at the moment."
Su Yi nodded, saying, "I understand."
"You understand nothing!" Nanying sneered. "If it weren't for you wasting three years of my time, why would I have become an inner disciple only six months ago?"
Su Yi sighed inwardly, realizing how blind he had been during those three years.
This woman wasn't just manipulative and fickle; she was a complete scheming bitch who would stop at nothing to climb the social ladder!
After giving it some thought, Su Yi spoke earnestly, "Your methods and cunning are still lacking. Truly formidable individuals wouldn't expose all the ugliness in their hearts just to vent some past grievances. Even if you want to be a deceptive woman, at least maintain a beautiful façade."
Seeing Nanying cover her mouth and laugh, she said, "So you're finally frustrated and can't help but curse at me? Let me tell you, in the eyes of others, I am gentle, graceful, pure as jade, and understanding. Even some of the senior members of the sect have developed feelings for me."
"A useless son-in-law like you calling me a bitch, who would believe it?"
She laughed with great delight.
"Junior sister, it's getting late," Ni Hao's voice came from outside the courtyard.
Instantly, Nanying's smile vanished, her resentment and hatred dissipating. Her brows carried a faint trace of melancholy, and she appeared pitiable and enchanting.
She maintained an elegant demeanor, exuding a delicate and captivating beauty.
Su Yi shook his head at the sight. Who would have imagined that it was all an act?
"Su Yi, we are already people from two different worlds. Regardless of how unwilling you are in your heart, you can only exist under someone else's protection, living a lowly and struggling life."
"But I, in the future, will soar to the top and stand on the unreachable peak that you can only look up to for the rest of your life!"
Nanying approached Su Yi, her eyes devoid of emotion, and whispered, "Remember, don't mention today's events to anyone. Otherwise, I am capable of doing anything."
With that, she smiled faintly, turned and left. "Of course, even if you do speak out, no one in this world will believe the words of a useless son-in-law like you!"
Watching her figure disappear, Su Yi couldn't help but touch his nose and burst into laughter.
It was for the best. At least he had resolved a knot in his heart from the past and didn't have any lingering feelings for such a woman.
As the saying goes:
"The bamboo leaves of the green snake conceal its mouth, The sting of a wasp lies in its tail."
Both are not poisonous, but the most poisonous is a woman's heart.
"Sister's husband."
The door to the room quietly opened, and Wen Lingxue stepped out, her expression unpleasant and a hint of worry in her gaze as she looked at Su Yi.
"Did you hear everything?" Su Yi asked.
Wen Lingxue exclaimed angrily, "I overheard some of it, that woman is simply too malicious. I have never seen such a shameless person! If I had known her true intentions, I wouldn't have brought her here."
"There are plenty of people like her in this world, no need to bother with her," Su Yi said, smiling as he ruffled Wen Lingxue's head.
He then noticed that in just seven days, there had been some subtle changes in the girl's aura.
"You've started cultivating your tendons?" Su Yi exclaimed in surprise.
Wen Lingxue immediately smiled, radiant and joyous. She said, "It's all thanks to Brother-in-law for teaching me such powerful cultivation techniques. In just seven days, I have undergone a transformative change."
Su Yi also smiled and advised, "When cultivating, it is crucial not to rush. Remember to cultivate yourself with patience and temperance, and don't be too eager for progress."
Wen Lingxue nodded earnestly and said, "Brother-in-law, I will remember."
"By the way, are you planning to attend the Dragon Gate Banquet?" Su Yi asked.
Wen Lingxue shook her head, lowering her gaze as if avoiding Su Yi's eyes. She said, "Brother-in-law, I came here today to tell you something else."
Su Yi asked in surprise, "What is it?"
Wen Lingxue spoke softly, "Tomorrow morning, Uncle will take me and my parents to leave Guangling City and go to the Tianyuan Academy to visit my sister. It will take at least half a month for the round trip. Uncle said... he doesn't want you to come along..."
Her voice was filled with disappointment and helplessness.
"Are you afraid that I will be upset about it? Haha, there's no need to worry."
Su Yi couldn't help but laugh and quickly reassured her.
How could he not understand that the girl was concerned about him in this matter?
"Brother-in-law, do you have anything you want to say to my sister? Or perhaps a letter that I can deliver to her?"
Wen Lingxue's voice was clear.
Su Yi had initially thought of saying that he had nothing to say, but when he saw the hopeful look in the girl's eyes, his heart softened.
How could he not be aware that the girl had always hoped for a resolution and reconciliation between him and her sister?
Unfortunately, what she didn't know was that both Su Yi and Wen Lingzhao were strangers to each other, and there was no rift between them at all.
The reason for their distant relationship and mutual dislike was simply due to this marriage arrangement.
With the assistance of the Su family's power in Yujing City and the cooperation of Lady Wen, she had no choice but to marry into the Su family.
But back then, he had never been willing to become a son-in-law.
"Well, you can help me deliver a letter to her."
After thinking for a moment, Su Yi returned to his room, took out pen and paper, and quickly wrote a few lines.
When he came back, he had a sealed letter in his hand, which he handed to Wen Lingxue, smiling as he said, "Now you should be reassured, right?"
Wen Lingxue took the letter carefully and stored it away, happily saying, "Yes!"
"Remember, don't tell your sister about the secret techniques I taught you."
As Wen Lingxue was about to leave, Su Yi reminded her.
"Brother-in-law, you can rest assured. This is our secret, and I will never tell anyone else," Wen Lingxue waved her hand and left cheerfully.
"Since Wen Changjing is not planning to attend the Dragon Gate Banquet and instead intends to go to the Tianyuan Academy to visit Wen Lingzhao, it seems that Wen Lingzhao, as a grand disciple, has become more important in his heart..."
Su Yi stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, lost in thought.
"Indeed, the status of a grand disciple is enough to deter the major forces in Guangling City. As long as the Wen family holds onto Wen Lingzhao as their card, they no longer need to worry about the changing tides in this city."
With this in mind, Su Yi shook his head.
He had probably guessed some of Wen Lingzhao's thoughts as his nominal wife.
She probably hated and resisted this marriage from the beginning, planning to become stronger in order to find an opportunity to dissolve this marriage in the future.
As for whether she hated him or not, Su Yi didn't care at all.
On the contrary, he would prefer if she quickly dissolved this marriage herself, so he wouldn't have to personally handle the matter.
Just then, the voice of Hu Quan, the steward, rang out from outside the courtyard gate:
"Master, there is a visitor."